Published: Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, September 15, 2013 at 5:58 p.m.

When the first land was bought for Pender Commerce Park in 2006, officials saw a lot of potential to attract business. But the park, though since expanded, has remained vacant.

Now, however, interest is building in the approximately 800-acre, Pender County expanse on the west side of U.S. 421 stretching north from the New Hanover County line. The park was expanded in 2010 to nearly 800 acres from its original 378. It includes the site of the former BASF vitamin plant.

"We're seeing a lot of activity," said Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development, which handles business recruiting for Wilmington and Pender and New Hanover counties. "It's picked up in recent months."

All types of businesses have expressed interest – manufacturing, warehouse distribution and corporate locations, he said.

And there are reports that a seafood processing plant is eyeing the park.

Jim Quinn, chairman of the Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority board, said he has been told by Pender County officials that the firm is looking seriously at Pender Commerce Park.

The plant could be 100,000 square feet and employ 100 people, Quinn said.

No announcement, however, has been made about a plant and Pender County Manager Mickey Duval referred questions to Satterfield.

Satterfield would not comment on the report.

Danny McComas, chairman of the N.C. State Ports Authority board and former New Hanover County representative in the N.C. General Assembly, said he was unaware of a plant planning to come to the park, but he did say he saw potential for the area.

That potential was enhanced last week as Duke Energy announced it had chosen hundreds acres of Pender and New Hanover – including the commerce park – for its site-readiness program.

Over the next four months the sites – including one in Brunswick County as well – will undergo an assessment for their strengths for specific, targeted industries, the utility said.

Duke, which is paying for the evaluations, has hired consulting firm McCallum Sweeney to conduct a site study. Land-use planners will create conceptual plans detailing the areas of the sites most suited for building and development.

After assessments are made of the sites, Duke will market the property nationwide, providing an enormous boost to the park, Satterfield said.

"The site-readiness program is a big deal," he said, adding that the sites must meet a list of criteria that will identify and strengths and weaknesses. "Having sites that have to clear many hurdles improves the chances of landing projects."

Duke, which launched its program in 2005, has conducted assessments of 97 sites, landing 10 major projects.

The commerce park also is benefiting as a port-enhancement zone.

The state designation, which is only available to sites in low-income areas within 25 miles of the state's deepwater ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, would provide enhanced tax incentives for new industries creating port-related jobs.

Infrastructure has been improved since the park's inception. A water treatment plant was completed in 2012 and can produce 2 million gallons per day of drinking water. But it's designed to expand in phases up to 6 million gallons per day as the water needs increase – a capacity that could be used to service businesses and industries running down U.S. 421 on the New Hanover side of the border.

Sewer service, however, remains a weakness.

Only a small wastewater treatment plant exists on the property now, but Pender County is moving forward with permitting and design of a 500,000-gallon-a-day, expandable facility, Satterfield said.

Once planning is done, construction would take about 18 months, he said.

<p>When the first land was bought for Pender Commerce Park in 2006, officials saw a lot of potential to attract business. But the park, though since expanded, has remained vacant. </p><p>Now, however, interest is building in the approximately 800-acre, Pender County expanse on the west side of U.S. 421 stretching north from the New Hanover County line. The park was expanded in 2010 to nearly 800 acres from its original 378. It includes the site of the former BASF vitamin plant.</p><p>"We're seeing a lot of activity," said Scott Satterfield, CEO of Wilmington Business Development, which handles business recruiting for Wilmington and Pender and New Hanover counties. "It's picked up in recent months."</p><p>All types of businesses have expressed interest – manufacturing, warehouse distribution and corporate locations, he said.</p><p>And there are reports that a seafood processing plant is eyeing the park.</p><p>Jim Quinn, chairman of the Cape Fear Public Utilities Authority board, said he has been told by Pender County officials that the firm is looking seriously at Pender Commerce Park.</p><p>The plant could be 100,000 square feet and employ 100 people, Quinn said.</p><p>No announcement, however, has been made about a plant and Pender County Manager Mickey Duval referred questions to Satterfield.</p><p>Satterfield would not comment on the report.</p><p>Danny McComas, chairman of the N.C. State Ports Authority board and former New Hanover County representative in the N.C. General Assembly, said he was unaware of a plant planning to come to the park, but he did say he saw potential for the area.</p><p>That potential was enhanced last week as Duke Energy announced it had chosen hundreds acres of Pender and New Hanover – including the commerce park – for its site-readiness program. </p><p>Over the next four months the sites – including one in Brunswick County as well – will undergo an assessment for their strengths for specific, targeted industries, the utility said.</p><p>Duke, which is paying for the evaluations, has hired consulting firm McCallum Sweeney to conduct a site study. Land-use planners will create conceptual plans detailing the areas of the sites most suited for building and development.</p><p>After assessments are made of the sites, Duke will market the property nationwide, providing an enormous boost to the park, Satterfield said.</p><p>"The site-readiness program is a big deal," he said, adding that the sites must meet a list of criteria that will identify and strengths and weaknesses. "Having sites that have to clear many hurdles improves the chances of landing projects."</p><p>Duke, which launched its program in 2005, has conducted assessments of 97 sites, landing 10 major projects.</p><p>The commerce park also is benefiting as a port-enhancement zone.</p><p>The state designation, which is only available to sites in low-income areas within 25 miles of the state's deepwater ports in Wilmington and Morehead City, would provide enhanced tax incentives for new industries creating port-related jobs. </p><p>Infrastructure has been improved since the park's inception. A water treatment plant was completed in 2012 and can produce 2 million gallons per day of drinking water. But it's designed to expand in phases up to 6 million gallons per day as the water needs increase – a capacity that could be used to service businesses and industries running down U.S. 421 on the New Hanover side of the border.</p><p>Sewer service, however, remains a weakness.</p><p>Only a small wastewater treatment plant exists on the property now, but Pender County is moving forward with permitting and design of a 500,000-gallon-a-day, expandable facility, Satterfield said.</p><p>Once planning is done, construction would take about 18 months, he said.</p><p><a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/topic99"><b>Wayne Faulkner</b></a>: 343-2329</p><p>On <a href="http://www.starnewsonline.com/section/news41"><b>Twitter</b></a>: @bizniznews</p>